Our thoughts are with Tonga
by Noonsite 30 Jan 07:27 UTC
Tonga volcano eruption © Tonga Geological Services
The first month of 2022 for many cruisers will be marked by the devastating natural disaster in Tonga. An Island nation so loved by many and now suffering the effects of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the past 30 years.
The subsequent tsunami spared the majority of homes and buildings, but the greatest immediate need is for clean drinking water and long-term food production, with many crops destroyed or damaged by the falling ash. Having been closed to foreign yachts for nearly two years there is no transient cruiser population there to start pitching in, however Sea Mercy Fiji are working hard to get into the country and post regular updates of the situation and aid efforts on the Facebook page where it is also possible to donate.
With all eyes on the Pacific many are wondering if it's going to be possible to resume cruising there this year. Tonga's predicament has brought the risk of Covid to the country and other small island nations are suffering the same plight now that they have opened to repatriation flights. In truth, little has changed from what was open last year and there are limited indications that anything is going to change in the short term. Find out the current situation with open and closed borders in the Pacific in round up article.
As our abundance of reports from cruisers in this month's newsletter indicate, there are still many places in the world where incredible cruising can be enjoyed during the Pandemic. Covid has made us more flexible and willing to adapt plans at short notice, and perhaps even explore cruising grounds that have been under our noses all along.
Wherever you are planning to cruise this year, we wish you safe passage and fair winds, and we hope you find Noonsite just as useful as ever.
Sue and the Noonsite Team
This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com.